CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM REHNQUIST SIGNS A COPY OF THE BUSH V. GORE DECISION THAT DECIDED THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST (1924-2005). Rehnquist was a longtime Supreme Court Justice. He served for thirty-three years, including almost twenty as Chief Justice.

SB. 12pgs. N.d. N.p. A published copy of a major Supreme Court decision signed “William H Rehnquist” as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the first page. It is a copy of the Supreme Court’s December 12, 2000 decision in the monumental Bush v. Gore case. The Supreme Court which essentially decided the 2000 Presidential election in George W. Bush’s favor by preventing a recount of contested Florida ballets. Rehnquist had been Chief Justice during this major episode in the history of American elections.  This is not the small bound printings issued by the Court, but a larger printing done elsewhere; it is not bound and it is in fine condition.

FDR WRITES TO HIS FORMER LAW PARTNER AND LONGTIME FRIEND, BASIL O’CONNOR

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT (1882-1945). Roosevelt was President of the United States.

BASIL O’CONNOR (1892-1972). O’Connor was Franklin Roosevelt’s longtime friend and law partner until Roosevelt became President.

TLS. 1pg. December 2, 1935. Warm Springs, Georgia.  A typed letter signed “FDR” as President on “The White House” letterhead. Roosevelt wrote to his former law partner, Basil O’Connor, in New York. “Dear Doc: - Will you keep Miss Wallace in mind? I cannot begin any cataloguing until I have unpacked the records and that will be work for about one year more. She sounds thoroughly qualified. As ever yours, FDR”.  The letter has a stamp in the upper right-hand corner indicating when it was received at the offices of O’Connor & Farber and a handwritten notation by O’Connor.  There is a mailing fold and it is in very good condition.

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WRITES THAT “MRS. ROOSEVELT AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MEMBERS OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND I AM THE SENIOR WARDEN OF OUR LITTLE CHURCH AT HYDE PARK”

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT (1882-1945). Roosevelt was the Thirty-Second President.

TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. November 20, 1930. Warm Springs, Georgia.  A typed letter signed “Franklin D. Roosevelt” as New York Governor.  He wrote to George Wandling of Kansas City, Missouri on “Executive Chamber” letterhead: “Thank you for your letter which I find on my arrival at Warm Springs.  I appreciate your thinking of me.  You ask what Church I belong to – both Mrs. Roosevelt and I have always been members of the Protestant Episcopal Church and I am the Senior Warden of our little Church at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York.”  The letter is matted with the letter and the envelope; the letter is in very fine condition and the envelope has scuffing and wear.  A fine FDR letter about his religious beliefs.

PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT RESPONDS TO SENATOR McADOO’S VIEWS ON THE NEWLY-FORMED UNITED STATES MARITIME COMMISSION

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT (1882-1945). Roosevelt was the Thirty-Second President.

WILLIAM GIBBS McADOO (1863-1941). McAdoo was the Secretary of the Treasury under Woodrow Wilson and later served as a Senator from California.

TLS. 1pg. December 23, 1937. The White House. A typed letter signed “Franklin D Roosevelt” as President. On “The White House” letterhead, the missive is addressed to Senator William Gibbs McAdoo of California: “My dear Senator: Thank you very much for your letter of December twenty-first, setting forth your views with reference to the need for a Pacific Coast States representative on the Maritime Commission. I am glad to have your statements and want to assure you that they will have every consideration. With all good wishes, Very sincerely yours, Franklin D Roosevelt”. The United States Maritime Commission was a governmental agency established in 1936 for the building and operation of merchant ships. The commission existed until 1950. The letter, on seafoam green stationer, is in fine condition with one small red dot in the lower right corner.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WRITES TO LABOR SECRETARY FRANCES PERKINS ABOUT A CABINET MEETING: “WITH THE APPROACH OF WARM WEATHER ALL OF US WILL BE WANTING TO TAKE OFF OCCASIONAL WEEK ENDS. FOR THIS REASON I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE MORE CONVENIENT TO HAVE OUR CABINET MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT 2:00 O'CLOCK P. M. INSTEAD OF FRIDAY”

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (1882-1945).  Roosevelt was the Thirty-Second President. 

FRANCES PERKINS (1880-1965).  Perkins was a labor activist and the first woman to serve in a Cabinet, acting as Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945.

TLS 1pg. April 13, 1936. The White House.  A typed letter signed “Franklin D. Roosevelt” as President to Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins: “It has occurred to me that with the approach of warm weather all of us will be wanting to take off occasional week ends. For this reason I believe that it will be more convenient to have our cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock P. M. instead of Friday during the next few months. With this in mind we will start this arrangement this week and have a cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon.”.  The letter is framed with a small engraving of Roosevelt.  There is a central mailing fold and light toning to the letter.  A fine letter from Roosevelt to a history-making Cabinet member.

ONE YEAR AFTER HIS FAILED “COURT-PACKING SCHEME”, FDR REPLIES TO FORMER FEDERAL JUDGE WILLIAM HUNT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (1882-1945).  Roosevelt was the Thirty-Second President.

WILLIAM HENRY HUNT (1857-1949).  Hunt was a prominent lawyer and judge. Throughout his career as a Federal judge, Hunt served at various times in the United States District Court in Montana, the United States Court of Customs Appeals, the United States Commerce Court, and the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (San Francisco). He later left judiciary work for private law practice.

TLS. 1pg. October 21, 1938. Hyde Park, NY. A typed letter signed “Franklin D. Roosevelt” as President. It is on seafoam green “The White House” stationery and is addressed to Hunt in San Francisco after the end of his Federal career. It concerns Hunt’s recommendation of Californian lawyer Maurice E. Harrison for a Supreme Court position, though Harrison never received the nomination. This letter was written one year after Roosevelt attempted unsuccessfully to expand the number of justices in the Supreme Court in what would become known as his infamous “Court-Packing Scheme”: “My dear Mr. Hunt: Thank you for your courteous letter of October 11^th, with reference to Mr. Maurice E. Harrison, of San Francisco, whom you endorse for appointment to the United States Supreme Court. I am glad to know of your high opinion of Mr. Harrison’s qualifications, and do want to assure you that your statements on his behalf will; have every consideration when the question of filling the existing vacancy on the Court is taken up. With all good wishes, Very sincerely yours, Franklin D. Roosevelt”. The letter is in fine condition with one fold line.